Pad for artificial teeth.



J. MOORE.

PAD FOR ARTIFICIAL TEETH. APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 16, 1908.

Patented Jan. 14, 1913.

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W/T/YESSES/ J. MOORE.

PAD FOE ARTIFICIAL TEETH. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1c, 1903.

Patented Jan. 14, 1913.

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JOHN MOORE, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

PAD FOR ARTIFICIAIi TEETI-L.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14, 1913.

Application filed June 16, 1908. Serial No. 438,840.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN MOORE, a citizen of the United States, residingat Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Pads for ArtificialTeeth, of which the following 1s a. specification.

This invention relates to improvements in dentistry, and has specialreference to means for affording relief to those who are obliged to makeuse of artificial teeth, but whose gums are so tender that the pressureof the plate against them causes great dis comfort, and such continualannoyance and pain that the artificial teeth become a torment and nearlyuseless for mastication, causing the wearer to remove them at everyconvenient opportunity and prohibiting him from sleeping with such teethin h1s mouth.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved form of cushionto be interposed between the plates and the gums so as to relieve thepressure and remove the (11scomforts above referred to.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the means illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view inreverse or upside-down position, of a plate with artificial teeth forthe lower jaw, supplied with my improved cushion. Fig. 2 is a perpectiveview of a nearly finished cushion or pad formed from a layer of cottonspecially prepared of varying thickness, the same being thinnest at themiddle of the pad. Fig. 3 is aside view of same in its completed form.Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a nearly completed pad formed from aroll of cotton of uniform thickness throughout, and illustrating bydotted lines the manner of notching the roll to make the pad thinner itsmiddle portion than at its ends. Fig. perspective view of a partiallycompleted pad for the lower jaw, said pad beiiig at the stage where aV-shaped notch is to be removed from the middle of the pad. Fig. 6 is aperspective view showin the manner in which the V-shaped'piece 1s cutaway. Fig. 7 shows the same after the V- shaped piece has been removed,and Fig. 8 represents the completed pad bent to conform to the shape ofthe lower plate.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews of the drawings.

My invention consists in providing a cushion or pad of soft elasticmaterial and of peculiar shape between the gums and the plates ofartificial teeth, and in practice I have found after years ofexperimenting, that cotton such as is in general use for surgicalpurposes, is well adapted for my use when properly rolled and prepared.

It is necessary that the pad be pliant and shaped to conform readily tothe shape of the plate and lie on it smoothly and without wrinkles so asto be comfortable and thoroughly protect'the gums from any soreness dueto pressure and direct contact with the plate. At the same time the padmust be of suflicient solidity and toughness to retain its place andprevent displacement and spreading out after being worn awhile, orduring mastication.

I am fully aware that cotton has been used for various purposes for manyyears, but it has not been prepared or applied in the manner shaped andfor the purposes here shown and described.

I prefer to have the pad made from strips of specially prepared cottonfor the lower plate, of varying thickness so as to admit of the rollbeing fitted evenly at the curve at the front of the plate. I have foundfrom experience that it is necessary to have-the pad thinner where itbends around the curve, to keep it from wrinkling which causesdiscomfort to the wearer.

In the formation of the ad shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the strip of cottonom which the pad is rolled is made thinner toward its middle 12, withthe result of decreasing the diameter of the pad at its middle as shownin Fig. 3. This weakens the pad and reduces the thickness where the bendis to be made in dentistry in conforming it to the lower late, as shownin Fig. 1, which prevents unching and wrinkling of the pad at the bend.

Substantially the same effect is produced with a strip of uniformthickness, as shown in Fig. 4, by formin 131 115, in dotted lines inFig. 4. This notched end is rolled in first so as to be at the center ofthe finished pad and it produces the formation shown in Fig. 3. I havealso used the strip when all of one thickness and overcome the bunchingand -'wrinklin at the bend by cutting a V-groove 16 (see ig. 7) when theroll-was about three quarters of pro er thickness. The manner ofremoving t e material to form a notch shown atthe V-groove or notch 16is clearly illustrated in Fig. 8. This notch will allow the pad to becurved to fit the plate smoothly.

In bending the pad to the lower plate it should be first thoroughlysaturated with water to facilitate the operation and I frequently wrap apiece of thread 18 around the pad before placing it in the plate, toinsure its retaining its proper form.

Experience has taught me that the lower jaw at the ends of the platewhich holds the artificial teeth is more sensitive than at other ortionswhich makes it advisable to have tiie roll thinner at those points toprevent unnecessary pressure and to assist in keepin these ends of thepads in position. This t inning of the ends is shown at 20. When notmade thinner in this manner the bulky and stiff ends of the padhaveatendency to work out from between the gums and the plate The pad. orcushion can also be impregnated with any desired extract or solutionWhlCll will make its use still more soothing and pleasant to the wearer.

the gums and lower plate of artificial teethcomprising a roll of cottonreduced in thickness at its middle portion to facilitate the bending ofthe roll into U-shape to fit the contour of the plate.

2. As a pad or cushion to be Worn between the gums and the lower plateof antificial teeth, a roll of cotton reduced in thickness at its middleort-ion to facilitate the bending of the roll into a U-shape to fit theplate, the ends of said roll being also reduced in thickness.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal atIndianapolis, Indiana, this 28th day of May, A. D. one thousand ninehundred and eight.

JOHN MOORE. [L.s.]

Witnesses:

.F. W. WOERNER, L. B. 'WOERNER.

